Spoked metal wheel for motor vehicles and the like



a 1,625,986 A ml 26 9 1927' E. H. COQUILLE :SPOKED METAL WHEEL FOR MOTORVEHICLES AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 9, 1922 4 M,

Patented Apr. 26, 1927.

UNITED STATES PA H 1,625,986 TENT. OFFICE.

EMILE HENRI COQUILLE, OF PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGN OR TO RUDGE-WHITWOBTHLIM- ITED, OF COVENTRY, WARWICK,

ENGLAND.

SPOKED METAL WHEEL FOR MOTOR VEHICLES AND THE LIKE.

Application filed December 9, 1922, Serial No. 605,897, and in FranceDecember 23, 1921.

This invention relates to detachable Wheels of the type having a hubformed withan intermediate step or enlargement, so that the diameter ofthe inner end is considerably greater than the diameter of theouter'endof the hub.

In such constructions interehgzigingfser-v rations for transmittingtorque have been provided in the smaller diameter outer portion of thehub and a conical or lilge centering surface or abutment has beenprovided in the stepped-up or expanding part, but when the diameter ofthe enlarged portion greatly exceeds, say for example'by some two ormore times, the diameter of' the smaller part and the space within thelatter may be comparatively fully utilized for accommodating a brakedrum, steering pivot or the like, the space available for serrationstion of stresses to the contacting areas, which have perhaps thus becomelimited for the duty to be performed, is liable to result inobjectionable wear of the serrated surfaces. The object of'the presentinventionis to overcome such objections. J

The invention consists in a detachable wheel hub of the type indicatedhaving positive torque transmitting means in the form 30 ofinterengaging serrated surfaces at a moderate radial distance from theaxis of rotation, in combination with a pair of complementary coned orequivalent clutching surfaces at notv less than twice the radial :5distance of the serrations from the axis and constituting the soleabutment forthe axial force imposed by the retaining means,- so that theclutching action of the cones results in'a more'gradual br reducedapplication of force to the surfaces of the serrations.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 shows by way of example one suitable embodiment of theinvention, and

3 Figure 2 shows a modification of the construction shown in Figure 1. V

Figure 3 is a. cross-section through the teeth or the like.

An advantage of'the construction-illus- I trated is that the axis D, shown in dot and dash lines, of a steering pivot in theknuckle joint E, Fcan be arranged to pass on exten-.

sion through the with the ground.

As shown in' the embodiment. illustrated point of contact of the tyrebecomes restricted and the sudden applica-- advantage of excluding byway of example in Figure 1 of the drawing, the said wheel is centeredand supported a t. A byv the co-operation of a complementary pair ofconical or equivalent clutching surfaces 1 and 1 formed upon the brake00 drum 2 and housin 2 -without, however, being fixed thereto y positiveattachment means at this region and the contact being maintained by theaxial force exerted bythe lock ng or retaining device 14. The drivetakes place through teeth 3 and 4 formed at B inthe inner hub part 5 andthe outer hub part 6 respectively or other ositive driving meanscomprising readily re atively slidable' complementary projections andre- .cesses formedaround the smaller projecting barrel portion 7 of thehub assisted'by the frictional grip at A or C.

As shown in Figure 2, the coned or equivalent supporting and centeringmeans is provided at C by a conical surface 8 on a flange or rib 9standing up from that edge of the brake drum 10 which is adjacent to theve hicle, the co-operating internal surface 11 being formed just withintheedge 12 of the enlarged housing portion 13, This has the dirt orother foreign matter from the annular space between the interior of thehousing and exterior of the brake drum 10. p

In the illustrated example the wheel 0011- structed according to thisinvention is mounted on a hub furnished with self-tight-v ening lockingdevice 14, but it is obvious that it may be adapted to all other hubstitted with different locking devices whether these are of the automatictype or of the pawl type or comprise drums or rollers.

The cone clutch surfaces 1, lfland and 11 are at a considerably greaterradial..(lis'- tance from the axis of rotation that the positiveengaging means 3, 4 around the barrel portion of the hub, the distancebeing from three to four times in the embodiment of the inventionillustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.

An important result arising from the combination of the clutch surfacesand the positive driving means is that the large diameter cone surfacesintroduce a clutching ac- 1 tion which stops any intermittent creepingbackwards and forwards in a rotary sense within the limits of clearancewhich must be allowed to ensure relative slidability of the inner andouter hub parts. This pre- 1 Y vention of any hammering action on thepositive eng'agmg surfaces greatly increases the life of these portionsof the structure and prevents the clearance being gradually increasedwhich would otherwise be the case as the small coneabutment surfacesusually employed will not without very excessive tightening of theretaining means prevent the before-mentioned intermittent creepingaction. i

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In combination in a demountable wheel huban inner and an outer hub part, positive torque transmitting means onsleeved barrel regions of said hub parts ata moderate radial distancefrom the axis of rota tion, means axially forcing onepart upon the otherand a pair of complementary conical clutching surfaces at several timessaid radial distance from the axis forconstituting the sole axial forcesustaining abutment and in so doing relieving the positive torque meansfrom sudden force.

2. In combination in a demountable wheel hub an inner and an outer hubpart, sleeved barrel regions of said hub parts not larger in diameterthan necessary to accommodate the internal mechanism thereof, positivetorque transmitting means on said sleeved regions axially slidable onein the other, a

screw-threaded member engaging the remote end of one of said sleevedregions and contacting with the other to axially force one part upon theother and a pair of complementary conical clutching "surfaces several intheother springing from said barrel retimes larger in diameter than saidbarrel regions for constituting the sole axial force sustaining abutmentand in so doing relieving the positive torque means from sudden force.n.

3. In combination in a demountable wheel hub an inner and an outer hubpart, positive torque transmitting means on sleeved barrel regions ofsaid hub parts at a moderate radial distance from the axis of rotation,means axially forcing one part upon the other, drum-like enlargementsone withgions to several times said radial distance from the axis and apair of complementary conical clutching surfaces on said drums forconstituting the sole axial force sustaining abutment and in so doingrelieving the positive torque means from sudden force.

4, In combination in a demountable wheel hub aninner and an outer hubpart, posisaid drums away from the vehicle for constituting the soleaxial force sustaining abutment and in so doing relieving the posi- 70tive torque means from sudden force.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

EMILE HENRI COQUILLE.

